"And Act Two — the fire escape?"
He shook his head.
"No. We haven't got one of those. Why not the front door? Are you ready?"
He handed her her bag, went out into the hall, and fetched in her valise. This he opened for her.
"Put on another hat," he said. "You must look ordinary."
She nodded. In a couple of minutes she was ready; and they walked down the stairs together. At the foot of the stairs he stopped.
"Round there," he said, pointing, "you'll find a flight of steps to the basement. Wait just out of sight. When you hear me go up the stairs again, walk straight out of the front door and take a taxi to the Ritz. Stay there as Mrs. Joseph M. Halliday, of Boston. Mr. Joseph M. Halliday — myself — will arrive for breakfast at ten o'clock tomorrow morning."
"And Act Three?" she asked.
"That," said the Saint serenely, "will be nothing but a brief brisk dialogue between Teal and me. Goodnight, Jill."
He held out his hand. She took it.